Floods in Mozambique in 2000

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Floods in Mozambique in 2000
US military helicopters over flooded areas
US military helicopters over flooded areas
Data
Beginning February 2000
The End March 2000
consequences
affected areas eastern South Africa, Mozambique
Victim 700-800
Damage amount $ 500 million

The floods in Mozambique in February and March 2000 were a major natural disaster . After weeks of heavy rain, triggered by cyclone Connie , cyclone Eline hit the coast of Mozambique and caused the Limpopo , Incomati , Umbeluzi , Save and Zambezi rivers to overflow , multiplying the number of victims. It is estimated that 44,000 people were left homeless and 700 to 800 people died. The damage is estimated at $ 500 million.

The flood in 2000 was considered the largest of its kind in Mozambique for many decades, but was exceeded by Cyclone Idai in 2019 .

Meteorological process

Beira (Mosambik)
Cyclone Eline when it hit the port city of Beira on February 22, 2000

Mozambique experienced heavy rains in October and November 1999, followed by equally heavy rains in January 2000, the latter as an impact from Cyclone Connie . At the end of January there had been so much rainfall that the Incomati , Umbeluzi and Limpopo rivers overran their banks and flooded large parts of the capital Maputo and the neighboring city of Matola . In the small town of Chókwè ( Gaza province ), the limpopo reached a water level of 6 meters on January 24, twice as high as usual. In many areas, the annual rainfall fell within two weeks. The resulting floods were considered the largest of their kind since 1951.

Much of the flood began to recede in late February when cyclone Eline hit Mozambique. Eline was a long-lasting tropical cyclone that peaked not far from the port city of Beira on February 22, 2000. At the end of February 2000, the disaster in Mozambique was considered the worst of its kind in more than a century.

Effects

Mozambique preflood.jpg Mozambique flood.jpg
Limpopo river course in August 1999 and in March 2000

At the end of February, the number of malaria and diarrhea infections rose sharply. The flood interrupted numerous traffic connections, including the only north-south long-distance route in Mozambique ( EN1 ), and cut off numerous areas from the outside world. The floods caused by the rain in January left 220,000 people homeless and 150 died before cyclone Eline hit Mozambique.

After the hit by Zyklon Eline, the number of victims rose sharply and more than 463,000 people were left homeless. The number of victims is estimated at 700 to 800 people, half of them in Chókwè. The damage is estimated at US $ 500 million. The cyclone and the floods had a lasting negative impact on Mozambique's economic development and destroyed large parts of the progress made since 1992 - the end of the civil war .

aftermath

The Limpopo stepped far over its banks
People waiting for help
The effects of the rain reach the city of Xai-Xai: Flooded bridge over the Limpopo in Gaza Province.

Even before cyclone Eline hit, the Mozambican government asked for international help. After Cyclone Eline, President Joaquim Chissano asked for additional help of $ 65 million and later $ 160 million. As of March 17, 2000, various countries had already pledged aid amounting to US $ 119 million. On March 4, 39.6 tons of relief supplies had arrived in the country, which completely overwhelmed the cargo handling capacity of Maputo Airport .

Numerous governments supported Mozambique with aid payments, relief supplies and debt relief:

  • The Dutch government donated 5 million guilders (about 2.27 million euros)
  • The Italian government released 10 billion lire (about 5.1 million euros), half of which was for emergency rescue operations
  • The Danish government donated 2.68 million euros
  • The Swedish and Irish governments transferred payments of 10 million kroner (approx. 1.1 million euros) and 507,000 euros, respectively, to the World Food Program
  • Portugal sent 40 tons of relief supplies in the form of medicines, tents, food and inflatables
  • The Canadian government donated 11.6 million Canadian dollars (about 7.7 million euros)
  • The United States supported Mozambique with a total of $ 50 million, including $ 7 million in food through its development agency USAID .
  • The European Humanitarian Aid Office made payments amounting to 25 million euros
  • The Botswana government donated 23 million pula (about 4.9 million euros)
  • Additional support came from Mauritius (US $ 100,000), Ghana (food and clothing worth US $ 100,000), Australia (US $ 1 million), Concern Worldwide (US $ 650,000).
  • The United Kingdom and Italy canceled Mozambique's debts of $ 150 million and $ 500 million, respectively.

The Mozambican government mainly used boats to rescue people from the affected regions and set up 121 refugee shelters. The country's air force was considered obsolete and practically incapable of providing assistance. As a result, among others, South Africa sent twelve planes and helicopters. They were supported by Malawi (2 helicopters), the United Kingdom (6 helicopters) and Germany (10 helicopters).

The demining of the United Nations ( United Nations Mine Action Service ) expressed concern that the flooding numerous landmines could have washed into populated areas.

The first residents returned in early March after the floods slowly receded.

Web links

Commons : Floods in Mozambique 2000  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Saison Cyclonique Sud-Ouest de l'océan India 1999/2000 - Cyclone Season South-West Indian Ocean 1999/2000. (PDF) Center des Cyclones Tropicaux de la Réunion, 2000, p. 48f. , accessed on March 22, 2015 (fr / en, 56 MB (!)).
  2. ^ Frances Christie, Joseph Hanlon: Mozambique & the Great Flood of 2000 . Indiana University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-253-21473-4 , pp. xvi . }
  3. ↑ Mozambique - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1. In: ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, January 26, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  4. ↑ a b Mozambique: Limpopo Flood Reaches Chokwe. In: ReliefWeb. Pan African News Agency, January 24, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  5. ^ A b Tropical storm threatens flood-ravaged Mozambique. Disaster Relief, February 18, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  6. ↑ Cyclone reaches Mozambique's southern Inhambane province. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, February 21, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  7. ↑ Mozambique floods situation report 29 Feb 2000. In: ReliefWeb. US Fund for UNICEF, February 29, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  8. ^ Floods Cut Main Highway In Three Places. In: ReliefWeb. Pan African News Agency, February 6, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  9. ↑ Emelia Sithole: Mozambique's Chissano urges post-cyclone aid. In: ReliefWeb. Reuters, February 23, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  10. ^ A b c Mozambique: Ross Mountain praised media's role and international solidarity floods. In: ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, March 17, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  11. ↑ Mozambique's flood death toll rises to nearly 700. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, April 3, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  12. ↑ Trocaire launches appeal for Mozambique flood victims. In: ReliefWeb. Trócaire, February 24, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  13. ↑ Cynthia Long: Mozambique to appeal for aid in wake of Cyclone Eline. In: ReliefWeb. Disaster Relief, February 23, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  14. ↑ a b The Netherlands gives 7 million guilders in aid to Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Government of the Netherlands, February 24, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  15. ↑ Mozambique - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 20. In: ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, March 22, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  16. ↑ Mozambique Shudders Over Another Cyclone. In: ReliefWeb. Pan African News Agency, March 4, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  17. ↑ Too much, Too late: Aid now pours into Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Reuters, March 7, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  18. ↑ Italy: 10 billion liras earmarked to assist Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Government of Italy, February 25, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  19. ^ Denmark allocates emergency flood aid to Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, March 1, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  20. ^ Decision on extra money for Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Government of Sweden, February 28, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  21. ↑ Ireland to send half million euros to flood hit Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, February 28, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  22. ↑ Portugal sends 40 tonnes of aid for flood hit Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, February 28, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  23. ^ Maria Minna Announces Additional $ 10 Million for Flood Victims in Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Canadian International Development Agency, March 8, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  24. ↑ Jim Garamone: US Military Relief Effort in Mozambique Winds Down. In: American Forces Press Service. March 27, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  25. ↑ European Commissioner Poul Nielson announces more than 25 million euros in aid for victims of the Mozambican floods. In: ReliefWeb. European Commission Humanitarian Aid department, March 3, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  26. ↑ Botswana Comes To The Rescue Of Zimbabwe, Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Pan African News Agency, February 29, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  27. ↑ Mauritius offers 100,000 dollars to Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Pan African News Agency, March 2, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  28. ^ Ghana donates to Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Pan African News Agency, March 3, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  29. ^ Australian Assistance for Mozambique Floods. In: ReliefWeb. Australian Agency for International Development, March 4, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  30. ↑ Mozambique: Britain cancels debt in response to floods. In: ReliefWeb. IRIN, February 29, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  31. ↑ Italy plans to cancel 500 mln dlrs of Mozambique's debt. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, March 2, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  32. ↑ Mozambique - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 9. In: ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, February 24, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  33. ↑ Mozambique - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 10. In: ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, February 27, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  34. ↑ More South African aircraft sent to aid flooded Mozambique. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, February 29, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  35. ↑ Raphael Tenthani: Malawi Helicopters Assist Mozambican. In: ReliefWeb. Pan African News Agency, February 26, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  36. ^ Mozambique: Demand for more disaster assistance. In: ReliefWeb. IRIN, March 3, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  37. ↑ Germany boosts Mozambique aid, Italian MPS want intervention. In: ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse, March 2, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  38. ^ Mozambique: WFP to take food to families marooned on rooftops. In: ReliefWeb. United Nations Department of Public Information, March 1, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .
  39. ↑ People fleeing Chokwe in case of renewed flooding. In: ReliefWeb. Médecins Sans Frontières, March 4, 2000, accessed March 22, 2015 .